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what is the best way for me to provide my 22 yea old son, who is in denial of his bipolar diagnosis, support and also take care of my mental well being?

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Welcome to EmpowHER. Your love and support can make a difference in treatment and recovery. You can help by learning about the illness, offering hope and encouragement, keeping track of symptoms, and being a partner in treatment. But caring for a person with bipolar disorder will take a toll if you neglect your own needs, so it’s important to find a balance between supporting your loved one and taking care of yourself.

Here are some ways you can help a person with bipolar disorder:

Educate yourself about bipolar disorder. Learn everything you can about the symptoms and treatment options. The more you know about bipolar disorder, the better equipped you’ll be to help your loved one and keep things in perspective.

Encourage him to get help. The sooner bipolar disorder is treated, the better the prognosis, so urge your son to seek professional help right away. Don’t wait to see if he will get better without treatment.

Be understanding. Let your son know that you’re there if he needs a sympathetic ear, encouragement, or assistance with treatment. Remind him that you care and that you’ll do whatever you can to help.

Be patient. Getting better takes time, even when a person is committed to treatment. Don’t expect a quick recovery or a permanent cure. Be patient with the pace of recovery and prepare for setbacks and challenges. Managing bipolar disorder is a lifelong process. Hope these tips will help.

This Comment

Have you read the book, "I'm Not Sick", by Xavier Amadour? It is a great book about how to connect with your loved one who does not understand they are sick.

Also, please got to the Treatment Advocacy Website. www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org They have a state by state listing of laws and rules and regulations on how you can get your loved one into treatment. they also have a hotline number.

Also, I belong to a Facebook Group - parents of adult children who have serious mental illness - bipolar, schizophrenia, etc. you are not alone. They have been through what you are going through.

There are also local NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness Groups - that have support group meeting for parents with adult children with a mental illness.

But the immediate need... to get your son into treatment...go to the TAC website.

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